"As the Days of Heaven Upon the Earth": Discovering Our Earthly Heaven
Deut. 11:21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Could it be? Take a close look at the last eight words of that verse again… “as the days of heaven upon the earth.” I see two possible interpretations. The first, which most commentaries suggest, is that this verse is simply stating that just as long as the heavens and the earth co-exist, this covenant God made with Israel to give them this land would be in place. In other words, it is an everlasting covenant. I can see that.
However, I also want to challenge you to look at it from another perspective. Have you ever used the phrase “Heaven on Earth!” when describing an unforgettable, pleasant experience? I think we all have. That said, is it so far-fetched to consider the possibility that this is what is implied in this verse? Think about it!
First, in the context of this chapter (see verses 8-14), Canaan Land is described as a very prosperous, blessed, fruitful land, which “the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” It is a place God was preparing and preserving for His people while they were making their journey there. God was looking forward to blessing them with this beautiful place that He was preparing for them. So keep in mind that it is within this context that our selected verse is spoken.
Second, do you remember what our Lord Jesus instructed us to pray, among other things? He prayed in Matthew 6:10, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Are you getting the picture yet? God’s ultimate desire is for His will to be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. Is it possible that Deut. 11:21 is an Old Testament picture of Matthew 6:10? I believe that, in essence, God COULD have also been saying that what He had waiting for His children was going to be a taste of Heaven on Earth. It is certainly worthy of consideration, don’t you think?
Is that not what it is like when God’s will is done…a touch of Heaven on Earth? Do things not go well with us when God blesses us for obedience and faith? I’m certainly not implying that trouble won’t exist. God knows they had to fight the giants constantly to overcome them in order to procure their inheritance. However, once Victory WAS granted…it was SWEET!! Dear friend, the same is true for us. We indeed will fight our battles, but OH HOW SWEET THE VICTORY once obtained! You CAN experience a taste of Heaven on Earth by trusting Him!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
Could it be? Take a close look at the last eight words of that verse again… “as the days of heaven upon the earth.” I see two possible interpretations. The first, which most commentaries suggest, is that this verse is simply stating that just as long as the heavens and the earth co-exist, this covenant God made with Israel to give them this land would be in place. In other words, it is an everlasting covenant. I can see that.
However, I also want to challenge you to look at it from another perspective. Have you ever used the phrase “Heaven on Earth!” when describing an unforgettable, pleasant experience? I think we all have. That said, is it so far-fetched to consider the possibility that this is what is implied in this verse? Think about it!
First, in the context of this chapter (see verses 8-14), Canaan Land is described as a very prosperous, blessed, fruitful land, which “the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” It is a place God was preparing and preserving for His people while they were making their journey there. God was looking forward to blessing them with this beautiful place that He was preparing for them. So keep in mind that it is within this context that our selected verse is spoken.
Second, do you remember what our Lord Jesus instructed us to pray, among other things? He prayed in Matthew 6:10, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Are you getting the picture yet? God’s ultimate desire is for His will to be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven. Is it possible that Deut. 11:21 is an Old Testament picture of Matthew 6:10? I believe that, in essence, God COULD have also been saying that what He had waiting for His children was going to be a taste of Heaven on Earth. It is certainly worthy of consideration, don’t you think?
Is that not what it is like when God’s will is done…a touch of Heaven on Earth? Do things not go well with us when God blesses us for obedience and faith? I’m certainly not implying that trouble won’t exist. God knows they had to fight the giants constantly to overcome them in order to procure their inheritance. However, once Victory WAS granted…it was SWEET!! Dear friend, the same is true for us. We indeed will fight our battles, but OH HOW SWEET THE VICTORY once obtained! You CAN experience a taste of Heaven on Earth by trusting Him!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill